LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Ford Motor Co. plans to add at least 1,000 new jobs and bring a new vehicle to Louisville as part of a tentative agreement reached between the automaker and the United Auto Workers union.
As part of the deal, Ford would also invest an additional $600 million in Louisville’s two plants, with most of the money going to improve the Kentucky Truck Plant, officials said Tuesday.
During a news conference in Detroit, Ford announced it would invest in all its U.S. factories, adding up to 5,750 new jobs and including 1000 in Louisville. The new positions could be as high as 1600, according to a statement released late Tuesday from Congressman John Yarmuth’s office, D – KY 3rd District.
Calling it a very exciting announcement, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer the announcement was “exciting economic news” for the city.
“In an era when we are looking for jobs, jobs, jobs, it is wonderful to say that Ford will be increasing at least 1,000 new jobs on the third shift on top of the new jobs announced a month ago,” Fischer said.
Fischer said strong demand for the new Escape – which has yet to be launched – is the driving force behind Ford’s decision to add a third shift at LAP.
Marty Mulloy, Ford V.P. of Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs, said Tuesday, “We have a small amount of employees on indefinite layoff and this case, if my memory serves me right, we have 41 in Louisville. So those will be brought back to work and they’ll be at the Louisville Assembly Plant, but Louisville is an example, the majority of those are going to be our entry level employees.”
According to Mayor Fischer, Ford also has plans to produce another vehicle at the Kentucky Truck Plant, but there’s no word yet on what kind of car it will be.
Councilwoman Madonna Flood also spoke at Tuesday’s press conference and said the 1,000 jobs produced will add thousands of jobs and produce “seven spinoff jobs at suppliers for every Ford job.”
Fischer says the additional $600 million brings Ford’s total investment in Louisville to $1.2 billion, which will be spread out over a period of four years, but he noted that the third shift will at the LAP will be starting “very soon.”